Sea turtles serve as a valuable indicator species for the overall health of marine ecosystems. Their well-being often reflects the condition of the habitat they reside in, including the quality of the water and the availability of food sources like seagrass and jellyfish.
Sea turtles occupy multiple marine habitats during their life cycle, including open ocean, coastal areas, and coral reefs. Therefore, a decline in sea turtle populations can signify issues ranging from water pollution and habitat destruction to imbalances in the food web.
The presence of healthy sea turtles can indicate well-functioning ecosystems with balanced predator-prey relationships. For example, green turtles graze on seagrasses, effectively pruning them, which helps the seagrass beds to remain productive and provide habitat for other species. Conversely, when sea turtles are sick or declining in number, this can be a red flag for environmental issues such as water pollution, overfishing, or the presence of harmful algal blooms.